ENGLAND'S Gold Coast-bound prodigy Charley Hull ditched her teddy bear collection last year to find space for the burgeoning spoils of her golf career.

You need such an image sometimes to remind yourself of just how young the new vanguard of women's golf is.

Kiwi marvel Lydia Ko is 16. Hull, the new blonde-haired darling of European golf as 2013's rookie of the year, is just 13 months older at 17.

The overhaul of her bedroom decore was much needed to find space for the golden wedge that is her pride and joy and the photos of the Solheim Cup triumph that so marked 2013 as a breakout year.

Picked as a wildcard for women's golf's version of the Ryder Cup, Hull spanked American Paula Creamer, the former world No.2 in matchplay to help steer the Europeans to an historic first success on American soil in Denver.

The youngest-ever Solheim Cup competitor scored the golden wedge as part of the recognition for those exploits.

Hull is heading to Royal Pines this week for a first-time taste of the Volvik Ladies Masters where former world No.1s Karrie Webb, Yani Tseng and Laura Davies will be part of the high quality cast for Thursday's tee-off.

It is a coup orchestrated by Bob Tuohy although we shouldn't be surprised at his talent spotting. The same savvy tournament promoter enticed a little-known Mexican, Lorena Ochoa, to play the 2003 Ladies Masters before she started the celebrated LPGA career that took her to world No.1.

Hull enjoyed being paired with Ko in Christchurch on Friday in the opening round of the New Zealand Women's Open.

In part, it was because the pressure was off because all Kiwi eyes were on her partner as both shot 69.

"Of course, everyone is comparing you to Lydia but it was kinda fun to have the pressure off," Hull chirped in Christchurch.

Her plasterer father had a plastic golf club in young Hull's hands at the age of two so this career has been preordained for much of her life. She was being home schooled by 13 to better fit in goal's consuming practice.

She has a fun take on meeting discrimination on the way up as she told the BBC's school report team last year.

"When I was seven I played a 17-year-old boy and beat him. He swore at me," Hull said.

She has knocked back the chance to play full-time on the LPGA Tour in the US because she wants the normality of her friends and surroundings of her home town of Burton Latimer in England.

"I went on holidays for a week to Majorca and spent time with my family and friends because I wanted to be like a normal 17-year-old," Hull said of her recent off-season.

"Normal" will take on a different meaning soon enough for the girl who finished second in her first five events on the Ladies European Tour last year.

Hull will be a treat for fans at Royal Pines. The girl ranked No.100 may be a glimpse of the woman who will be a top 10 star for years to come.

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